Route 66 Preservationist Ed Klein announced today he is to author a book about Route 66 through the state of Kansas. The approval for the book came from Arcadia Publishing who has over 9,000 books in their catalog, most written by locals and first time authors. The book will be titled ‘Route 66 in Kansas’which will be part of their ‘Images of America’ series and is due for release mid 2015. It will cover the early mining days of southeast Kansas through present day Route 66.

Ed Klein is the owner of the website Route 66 World (www.route66world.com) which is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and education of Route 66. He was researching information on several projects with locations ranging from Joplin, a building in Kansas and another project in Oklahoma.

“I scoured the internet and finding the information for Joplin and Oklahoma was much easier than finding certain bits and pieces about a location in Kansas I was working on. I then checked to see if there were actually any books written about Route 66 in Kansas and to my surprise, there were none.”

Klein contacted Arcadia Publishing to check to see if there were any books in the works for Route 66 in the state of Kansas, and they responded with a ‘no, but what do you think about writing a book about the route in Kansas?’

Kansas has the shortest stretch of Route 66 of all the eight states it runs through. Less than thirteen miles connects Kansas from Joplin Missouri to Quapaw Oklahoma, two towns which have been affected by tornadoes and in both occasions, Klein has helped by donating much needed funds to local relief efforts.

“Route 66 is not only about the old motels, the diners and the gift shops, it is also about saving history and places so many travelers around the world come to see and experience. It is very easy to have a business close down or suffer a catastrophic loss like this, keeping them open is the hard part!” Klein adds.

I have a little different connection with this book than most. I found the photography in this book of Route 66 in Arizona to be so crisp, clear and compelling I just had to use the pictures in my presentation at the 2012 Arizona Governors Conference of Tourism.

Not only did these pictures jump out on the ‘big screens’ when I gave my presentation – they really jump out at you in the book!

I have known Roger Naylor for a little while know – and we talk about our travels and upcoming potential projects on the route. He would tell me what ‘he heard was going on – on Route 66 in Arizona’ and I would share with him my stories and knowledge. The real opportunity to bond with him and Larry Lindahl was when I was approached to do the conference. Roger gave me a preview of his and Larry’s new book and I told him ‘I HAVE to use your images!‘

Then I contacted Larry – who I have NEVER spoken to before. After a few Emails, the deal was set and we were working together. The pictures are FANTASTIC.

Now, to the book! I had to buy this book! It is so clean and flows so well and it is so lively. Larry has taken pictures of all the places we know and love, and the short descriptions ond facts from Roger really compliment the book. It is a must have if you are looking for an addition to your collection!

I will say this – it is not a history book of Route 66 in Arizona, but it is nothing short of a modern day tour guide of Route 66 in Arizona!

While several places are not in the book, I think it balances out quite well, and who knows – maybe a SECOND Arizona Kicks on Route 66 would fill that gap?!?!?